Method of making hollow articles



Jim@ 16, 1936. Q Q MANTLE l2,044,710

METHOD 0F MAKING HoLLow ARTICLES Fle d July 18, 1924 2 Shets-Sheet l www .June I6, w36. J. G. c. MANTLE METHOD 0F MAKING HOLLOW ARTICLES Filed July 18, 1924 2 sheetssheet 2 Patented June 16, 1936 UNITED STATES METHOD or MAKING HOLLOW Aa'rroms Joseph G. C. Mantle, Leonia, N. J..'assignor, by mesne assignments, to Bridgeport Thermostat Company, Inc., Bridgeport, Conn., a corporation of Delaware Application July 18, 1924, Serial No. 726,671 as claim.. '(01.153-73) This invention is a method of and apparatus for the formation of articles from shells or tubes of ductile material. The shells and tubes are usually drawn from sheet material and are either flanged or plain. e

The object of this invention is to rapidly and economically transform them into such shapes which, in general, could only hitherto be done by repeated annealings and Operations, or, by lo first forming portions and then joining them together to form the whole. By my invention a vast number of. shapes are obtained in a single operation which the limited ductility of the material comprising the shell or tube would Otherl3 wise have rendered impossible.

In the drawings: Figures 1, 2 and 3 show a flanged shell at different stages of the operation.

Figures 4, 5 and 6 are separate views of parts Sil of the contractible mold shown in Figures l, 2

and 3.

Figures 7, 8 and 9 show a flanged shell at different stages of the operation the whole so arranged that the internal fluid pressure may be applied and the contraction of the contractiblemold effected by the punch-holder or slide of an ordinary power press.

Figures 10 and 1l show two forms of mechanism by which the punch-holder may `contract the 33 contractible-mold` whilst applying the internal fluid pressure. y y

Figures l2 and 13 show means of, preventing leakage of the fluid from a fiangeless shell. Referring to Figure l: The anged shell i is supported in a contractible-mold consisting oi' parts 2, 3 and 4. Each of the parts 3 and l consists of two complemental pieces, as shown in Figure 4, and they are supported and held together in holders 5 and 6. Figure 5 shows a holder;l each holder has an annular portion and is provided with cut-a-way portions I correspending to lugs 8 on the mold-parts 3 and I, so that they may be placed therein and when given 43 a slight twist they are supported and held together or prevented from spreading apart. Each holder has an attached set of springs 9, the free ends of which are adapted to fit into grooves vlil on the upper surfaces of the holders 5 and the 50 mold-part 2. These springs sustain the holders in correct relation to each other, and also'act as guides in preventing lateral movement. The holder 8 is secured to a top-plate ll which is provided with a tube I 2 which telescopes into a reser- 55 voir I3 containing fluid under pressure. Be-

'Ihe shell or tube filled witha liquid, usually tween the reservoir I3 and the'top plate ll is a removable stop-piece il. The stop-piece I4 having been removed, the top plate slid up to the reservoir, the holders with their mold-parts assembled on the mold-part 2, the shell placed 5 therein, the holder B secured to the top plate and the stop-piece slid into place, the whole is ready for the operation, which is as follows:-

Fluid, usually water, under a pressure varying in accordance to the nature of the shell, is per- 0 mitted to pass through the tube I2 and till the shell, and then by reason thereof and on account of the shell being longitudinally confined, a change in shape occurs, as shown in Figure 2, viz., bulgings of the shell between the contacts of the mold-parts and creasings of the shell at the intermediate parts in contact with the mold-parts, as respectively shown at I5 and IB in Figure 2. Subsequently and whilst under sustained fluid pressure the contractible-mold is compressed,

preferably by a downward pressure applied by mechanical means to the top plate Il, until the parts are positioned as shown in Figure 3, or,

to Vany desired intermediate position. In the example shown, the mold-parts are equi-distant, and on account of the creasings i8 they retain their initial positions with respect to the contact with the shell during the whole of. the compression of the contractiblemold.. The collapsing operation may be performed on anV ordinary 39 power press operating at the customary speed of drawing a shell. V

In certain instances it is preferable to form these creasings (byrolling or otherwise) in-any suitable apparatus prior to the placement of the shell in the contractible mold. Unless the movement of the mold parts of the contractiblemold,

water, is placed in the contractible-mold and the 5 internal fluid pressure is produced by the downward movement of a plunger carried by the punch-holder or slide of the press, against and into the water or other liquid contained in the shell and4 at the same time the punch-holderor slide of the press operates mechanism which immediately afterwards compresses the contractible-mold.

Referring to Figures 7, 8 and 9, the'top plate 5 5` is provided with a sleeve I1 through which operates the plunger I8 attached to the punchholder of the press. The sleeve I1 is provided with lugs I9 adapted to be acted upon by'mechanism operated by the punch-holder of the press. Referring to Figure 11, which is drawn to a smaller scale, 20 and 2| are levers fulcrumed at 20' and 2|', and connected by a link 22. Lever 20 is adapted to be pressed downwardly by the punch-holder IB, and the forked-end of lever 2| is adapted to pressdownwardly on the lugs I9 of the sleeve of the top plate. The mechanism is shown in position corresponding to Figure 7. A slight downward movement of the punch-holder I8n brings it in contact with lever 2|) and has brought the plunger I8 into the position shown in Figure 8, and has caused the creasings I6, as is shown therein and the further movement of the punch-holder brings the plunger into the position shown in Figure 9 and has caused the mechanism, shown in Figure 11, to force the top plate downwards, thus compressing the contractiblemold as shown in Figure 9.

In forming different shapes a different relative movement aof plunger and top plate is usually necessary, and a mechanism which by the mere change of one of its members will give the correct movement is preferable. Referring to Figure I0, a stud and roller 23 carried by the punchholder la engages the slot in an arm of the lever 24 fulcrumed at 25. A cam 26 is attached by screws to the other arm of lever 24. Lever 21 iulcrumed at 28 carries a ro1ler'2l engaging cam 26 and the end 21' of the lever 21 engages an arm of the lever 29 which is fulcrumed at 30. Lever 29 has a forked-end adapted to press downwardly on the lugs i9 of the sleeve of the top plate for the purpose of compressing the contractible-mold. The punch-holder is shown holding the plunger in the position of Figure 7, and during the first part of the downward movement the roller 26' is on a concentric part of the cam and no movement is given to the lever 21 until the plunger and shell is as shown in Figure 8, and then the movement of the levers commence, and continue until the plunger and contractible-mold is as shown in Figure 9. 'The roller 26' is then on the part of the cam which is farthest from the fulcrum 25. Beyond this part of the cam there may be another concentric part permitting a further downward movement of the plunger after the complete compression of the contractible-mold so that the shell may be further extended and completely fill the contractible-mold.

In the examples so far described, leakage of the fluid is prevented by the nipping of the flange of the shell between the top plate and the uppermost holder. When a flangeless shell is used, the top plate may contain a piston 3| (see Figures 12 and 13) having a groove 32, preferably V- shaped adapted to receive the end of the shell. Figure 12 shows the top plate equipped with a tube |2 which may telescope into, or be otherwise connected to, a reservoir containing fiuid under pressure, whilst Figure 13 shows the top plate equipped with a sleeve |1 through which a plunger i8 may operate, as shown in Figures '1, 8, 9, 10 and 11. It will be seen that there is an unsupported area of the piston surrounding the groove 32 which is open to the atmosphere through vent 33, consequently the shell is automatically sealed when the fluid pressure is applied to the shell. When a angeless tube is operated on, the mold-part 2 (see Figures 1 and '7) may be provided with a groove adapted to receive the lower end of the tube and the top plate may be as in Figures 12 and 13.

It should be noted that Figures 3 and 9 show bellows-shaped articles in which the depth of the corrugation in respect to the diameter of the articles is much greater than has hitherto been possible to obtain in a single expanding operation. In other words, hitherto one or more intermediate annealings have been necessary. This is effected in one operation by the use of a material having a certain ductility, but, incidentally, with a degree of hardness far short of that required in the iinished article and the operation itself imparts the necessary degree of hardness. Also, in many cases by this use of a predetermined ductile material, but which lacks other attributes required in the finished article, resilient diaphragms as shown in Figures 3 and 9 are obtained. For instance. such articles as shown,l are obtained having suflicient re- J0 siliency for 'the purpose required which areV made from a low brass consisting of 85% copper and 15% zinc, and this material prior to the operation is soft and practically non-resilient; but the operation gives it the required hardness and resiliency. Hitherto, such resilient articles have been made from resilient material and when having so great a depth of corrugations have required several intermediate annealings. .".0

Bellows-shaped articles, made from brass having the aforementioned proportion of copper and zinc, when the initial creasings are made by internal fluid pressure prior to the contraction of the contract'ible-mold have a practically uniform 3. temper throughout the corrugations. With the same kind of material, but where the initial creasings are made by the rolling operation, then not only are the corrugations of much greater depth, if so desired, the temper practically uniform 40 throughout, but also a higher temper (by greater thinning) may be given to the inner curves of the corrugations. This higher temper in the inner curves gives greater durability to the article and the reason of it appears to be that the higher temper in the inner curve of less cross section than the outer curveboth having the same thickness-gives equal resistance, or resiliency to the inner and outer curves.

Having thus fully described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In the art of forming articles from metal' shells or tubes, a two stage process, the first stage of which consists in forming a plurality of inwardly extending circumferential grooves in the wall of the shell or tube, the said grooves adapted to co-operate with and prevent the movement, relative to said grooves and wall, of a plurality of mold-parts during a subsequent axial collapsing of said wall and bringing together or towards each other of said mold-parts; and the second stage of which consists of the axial collapsing of the said wall and bringing together or towards each other of the said mold-parts whilst outc5 wardly-expanding by hydraulic means, a portion of said wall positioned between the said grooves, between and into the said mold-parts.

2. In the art of forming articles from metal shells or tubes, a step-by-step process. one step of which is the rolling or spinning of the wall of the shell or tube to form a plurality of inwardlyextending circumferential grooves therein, another step of which is the placing of a plurality of mold-parts in a plurality of said grooves, and 7.6

another step of which is the axial collapsing of the said wall for bringing Vtogether or towards each vother ofv the said mold-parts whilst outwardly-expanding, by hydraulic means, a portion of said wall positioned between said grooves, between and into the said mold-parts.

3. In a method of making expansible and collapsible corrugated hollow metallic walls, the steps which include mounting a tubular wall within spaced forming rings, inducing an initial pressure within said wall suiiicient to expand the same outwardly between said rings while said rings are stationary, and then further expanding the portion of said wall between said rings while f collapsing said rings longitudinally of said wall.

4. In a method of making expansible and collapsible corrugated hollow metallic walls, the steps which include mounting a tubular wall within spaced forming rings, linducing an initial pressure within said wall -suillcient to expand the same outwardly between said rings while said rings are stationary. and then further expanding the portion of said wall between said rings while Gyln a method of making expansible and col-` lapsible metallic bellows, the steps which include disposing a tube within axially-movable forming rings, subjecting the interior of said tube to fluid pressure suiilcient to cause said tube to bulge between said rings, and then while substantially 4maintaining said fluid pressure, subjecting said tube to axial pressure to cause the metal to flow into corrugated form.

'7. In a method oi making expansible and collapsible corrugated hollow metallic walls, the steps which include mounting a tubular wall within spaced forming rings, inducing initial pressure within said wall sufficient to expandthe same outwardly between saidI rings while said rings are stationary, and then further expanding said wall between said rings while.exerting a pressure longitudinally of said wall to collapse said wall and rings.

8. In a method oi making expansible and collapsible metallic bellows, the steps which include positioning a tubular wall within relatively movable spaced forming rings, subjecting the interior of said tube to fluid, pressure to bulge said tube between said rings, and then while maintaining a fluid pressure on the interior of said tube, flowing the metal of said wall into corrugated form by the combined action of the internal pressure and an axialgthrust on said wall.

9. In a method of making metallic bellows from a tube by fluid pressure, the steps which consistv in mounting a -tube concentrally within a series of spaced axially-movable formingrings, initially establishing a fluid pressure within said tube sufficient to expand the tube wall into bulges between said rings, and then maintaining an axial pressure on said tube while permitting said rings to move axially to force the tube into corrugations lying between said rings by the combined action v of the interior and axial pressures acting thereon.

10. In a method of making corrugated hollow ing the portions of said wall between said rings while collapsing said wall longitudinally.

11. The method of making flexible corrugated tubular walls which includes positioning the tube in a die of axially-spaced rings, applying a radial pressure to said tube to bulge said tube between said rings, and then forming said bulges into relatively deep, narrow corrugations by the combined action oi a radial pressure and an exterior pressure applied longitudinally of said tube.

l2. The method of making a corrugated tubular wall which consists in preforming a tubular blank with a series of bulged areas of predetermined length, encircling the tubular blank between bulged areas to support and prevent expansion at points of support, subjecting the blank to an endwise contracting pressure, and maintaining an internal fluid pressure to cause the wall to roll up throughout the preformed areas during the Vcontraction in length.

13. 'Ihe method of making a corrugated tubular wall which consists inl supporting a tubular I blank at spaced intervals throughout its length to prevent expansion of'the'blank at points of supportbulging the blank between the points oi' support, and subjecting the preformed bulged tubular blank to endwise contracting pressure while maintaining an internal fluid pressure to cause the bulged portions of the blank wall to roll outwardly during the contraction in length.

14. The method of making a corrugated tubu' and nally subjecting the preformed tubular,

blank to an endwise contracting pressure while supporting the walls of the blank with an internal fluid pressure sufficient to maintain the walls in tension during the contraction'oi' the tubular blank.

15. The method of making a corrugated'tubular wallwhich consists in supporting a tubular blank against expansion at predetermined points throughout its length, bulging the wall of the blank between supports, thereafter subjecting the blank to an endwise pressure sufficient to contract the blank in length, and maintaining an internal fluid pressure during the contraction of the blank to cause the wall to roll into bellows folds during the contracting movement.

16. The method of forming a corrugated tubular member adapted for use in thermostats and the like, which comprises assembling a two-part head about the flange of a tubular blank, said two-part head being provided with an, opening therethrough for the introduction oi' a liquid, supporting the tube with a series of supports spaced at vuniform intervals throughout the length of the tube, buiging the walls of the tube between the points oi' support. and then corrugating the tube while supported internally by pressure exerted through the fluid introduced through the opening in the head.

70 17. The method of forming a series of bellows folds in a tubular blank, which includes ilanging i the open end of the blank, assembling a two-part head on opposite sides of the flange to seal the open end of the blank, the head having an opening therethrough communicating with the interior of the blank. connecting the interior of the blank through the opening, in the head with a source of fluid supply, supplying fluid under substantial pressure to the interior of the blank through the opening to form a series of preliminary bulges in the wall of the blank, forming a series of bellows folds while maintaining the internal fluid pressure, and thereafter disconnecting the blank from the source of iiuid supply.

18. In a method of making flexible, corrugated tubular walls, the steps which consist in mounting the tubular metal element within a series of spaced parallel rings, holding said rings in spaced relation and applying fluid pressure within said element' to expand the same against said rings and then allowing said rings to move to permit a longitudinal contraction of said element while continuously applying the fluid pressure to still further expand said element between said rings.

1 9. In the method of making flexible, corrugated tubular Walls, the steps which consist in mounting a tubular metal element within a series of spaced parallel rings, holding said rings in spaced relation and applying fluid pressure withln said element to expand the same against said rings, and then allowing said rings to move to permit a longitudinal contraction of said elements while continuously applying the fluid pressure and an exterior axial pressure to still further expand said element between said rings.

20. In a method of making flexible corrugated tubular walls, the steps which consist in mounting a tubular metal element within a series of spaced parallel rings, holding the rings 1n spaced relation and applying fluid pressure within said element to expand the same against said rings and form a series of bulges, and then allowing said rings to move to permit a longitudinal contraction of said element while continuously applying the fluid pressure to still further expand said element between said rings.

2l. In a method of making flexible corrugated tubular walls, the steps which consist in mounting a tubular metal element within a series of spaced parallel rings, holding said rings in spaced relation and applying fluid pressure within said element to expand the same against said rings and form a series of `bulges, and then allowing said rings to move to permit a longitudinal contraction of said elements while continuously applying the fluid pressure, and an exterior axial pressure to still further expand the said element betweensaid rings.

22. In a method oi making a metallic bellows from a tube by fluid pressure, the steps which consist in mounting a tube concentrically within a series of spaced axially-movable forming rings, bulging said tube between said rings by exerting fluid pressure interiorly thereof without exerting pressure axially of the tube to collapse the same, and then forming the corrugations by the comblned action of internal fluid pressure and a collapsing pressure acting axially of the tube.

23. In a method of making metallic bellows, the steps which consist in forming spaced inwardly extending shallow grooves in a cylindrical metal wall, and then expanding such wall outwardly between such grooves by the application of pressure uniformly against the surface of said wall while supporting the outer surfaces of such grooves against expansion.

24. In a method of making metallic bellows,

the steps which consist in forming spaced inwardly extending shallow grooves in a cylindrical metal wall, and then applying an internal uid pressure against such wall while supporting the outer surfaces of such grooves against expansion.

25. In a method of making metallic bellows, the steps which consist in forming spaced inwardly extending corrugations in a cylindrical metal wall, and then applying an internal expansion fluid pressure against such wall while supporting the outer surfaces of said inwardly extending corrugations against expansion during the expansion of the wall portions between said first-named corrugations.

26. In the methodof making metallic bellows, the steps which consist in forming spaced inwardly extending shallow corrugations in a cylindrical metal wall, and then expanding such wall outwardly between such corrugations by the application of pressure against the surface of said wall.

27. A method of making corrugated metallic articles, which comprises, pregrooving a cylindrical metal wall by forming spaced grooves -therein, and forcing such wall outwardly between such grooves by the application of fluid pressure against the inner surface of the wall portions between such grooves.

28. A method of making articles from metal shells or tubes, which comprises forming a plurality of grooves in the wall of the shell or tube, placing mold parts in the grooves, and then co1.- lapsing the shell or tube while under internal pressure to outwardly expand the wall of the shell or tube between the grooves.

29. A method of forming articles from metal shells or tubes which comprises rolling the wall of a shell or tube to form a plurality of inwardly extending circumferential grooves therein, placing mold parts in the grooves in the shell or tube. and then axially collapsing the wall of the shell or tube while under the influence of internal fluid pressure so as to expand outwardly a portion of the wall of the shell or tube between the grooves.

30. A method of Iforming articles from metal shells or tubes which comprises forming a plurality of grooves in the wall of the shell or tube, placing the grooved shell or tube in a contractible mold, applying pressure interiorly of the shell or tube. and then collapsing the shell or tube to form a corrugated shell or tube.

3l. A method of forming articles from metal shells or tubes, which comprises forming a plurality of inwardly extending grooves in the wall of a shell or tube. placing mold parts in the grooves, applying pressure interiorly of the shell or tube, and axially collapsing the wall of the shell or tube While under sustained pressure to bring the mold parts together to form a corrugated shell or tube.

32. A method of forming flexible corrugated articles from metalshells or tubes, which comprises pre-grooving a cylindrical metal wall by 'forming spaced grooves therein and then in a single operation collapsing the shell or tube while it is under internal pressure to outwardly expand the wall of the shell or tube between the grooves into corrugations of final width and depth.

33. A method of forming articles from metal shells or tubes which comprises rolling the wall of a shell or tube to form a plurality of grooves therein, placing the grooved shell or tube in a contractible mold, applying pressure interiorly ci' the shell or tube, and then collapsing the shell or tube to form acorrugated shell or tube.

v34; A method of making a corrugated tubular wall, which comprises supporting .a tubular jecting the prebulged blank to an axial con-l tracting pressure while maintaining an internal mud pressure to cause' Lthe bniged blank to contract in length.

35. A method of making acorrugated tubular*V wall which'includes' supporting a tubular blank in a contractible mold, exertingV a pressure within lthe tubular blank to expand the wall thereof against thev contractible rnold and form a. pre- .bulged tubular blank, and then', subjecting the prebuiged` tubular blank to an .endwise pressure to contract the blankin lengthwhile the blank is under a sustained internal fluid pressure to form ccrrugationstherein. v v

A"JOSEPH G. C. MANTLE. 

